Coraline was a novel by the acclaimed writer Neil Gaimann, (just to name a few) who is known for his work on the Sandman comics and the movies Beowolf and Big Fish. The movie was directed and written by Henry Sellick who co directed the Nightmare before Christmas. This is quite evident after seeing this film. It is made in a very similar style to the Nightmare and has quite a dark feel about it. This is definitely not a movie for everyone. Only those who enjoyed the Nightmare before Christmas, Corpse Bride Edward Scissor Hands and other such Tim Burton masterpieces will find this movie enjoyable. I did enjoy those movies and thus also enjoyed this very much.
I do not however, find this to be even close to the level of artfulness as The Nightmare mind you. There are many parts which are quite slow which really ruin this movie. The film goes for about an hour and a half, I think that if they had of reduced it to about one hour instead, it would have been perfect.
The film is filled with imagination, and the stop motion is done perfectly. All of the characters look wonderfully eerie and all voices suit their corresponding roles. The music is also equally suited, bringing a great ambience to the whole experience. In fact I would say that the soundtrack would be worth buying as opposed to the film.
At the beginning of the movie, whilst metallic, skeleton-like hands slowing sew up a doll of coralline, (showing every little detail from pushing the needle though the cotton to seeing the stuffing fall out), a strange little tune plays which sets up the pace for the movie. Many people will not enjoy this, especially children as although, when thinking about what actually happens, nothing is wrong but in fact is very scary and dark. If you like movies with a dark feel such as this, than you'll be disappointed to know that the rest of the movie is not up to this dark standard, rather taking a slightly brighter turn.
It is understandable, as the movie still has to be commercial. The movie is still meant to attract the average person, not just the small group who enjoy dark films.
Overall, Coraline is a pretty good movie with a reasonably dark feel. It fall short, though of becoming a classic like it’s contempary The Nightmare Before Christmas.
